Tue. April 1

Snow/Wind

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Wed. April 2

Partly Cloudy

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Thur. April 3

Cloudy

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Fri. April 4

Snow/Wind

39°/22°

Sat. April 5

Sunny

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Sun. April 6

Partly Cloudy

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WEEKLY WEATHER REPORT

A community newspaper serving Browerville, MN and surrounding areas. USPS 067-560

Thursday, April 10, 2014Volume 98; Number 40

www.bladepublishing.netstaff@bladepublishing.net

75¢

Todd County Deputy SheriffLonnie Marcyes has announcedhis run for the office of ToddCounty Sheriff. The FergusFalls college graduate has over11 years experience as both aTodd County Deputy and previ-ous positions as an officer in thecities of Long Prairie, Staples,and Eagle Bend. Marcyes hasalso served as a school liaisonofficer, is currently a member ofthe snowmobile patrol, and vol-unteers for the Browervillefirearms safety class.

Marcyes stated, “As yourSheriff, you can be sure that Iwill be involved with our com-munity and build relationshipsbetween the people and myoffice. I am committed to lead-ership and integrity. Fiscalresponsibility, interactive com-munity meetings, continuedcriminal interdiction trainingfor deputies, and increasingdrug-related arrests are priorities.”

Marcyes has received support from within the sheriff's depart-ment and community leaders. Support for Marcyes is based on hisstrong work ethic and knowledge of multiple departments.

“I understand the many costs that face our county,” said Marcyes.“I will be mindful of how taxpayer dollars are being spent whilebeing diligent and focused on the safety of our citizens.”

Marcyes is a lifelong resident of Todd County. He graduated fromLong Prairie-Grey Eagle High School and earned his CriminalJustice degree from Fergus Falls Community College in 2002. Heand his wife, Chelsea, live north of Browerville and have two chil-dren Jackson (7) and Bentley (2.)

Marcyes looks forward to meeting with Todd County residentsand discussing his plans and outlook for the future of the sheriff ’sdepartment.

Todd County Deputy Lonnie Marcyes announcesrun for Todd County Sheriff

Lee Konetzko of Browerville has been a volun-teer firearms safety instructor for close to 40years. He was initially recruited by the safetyinstructor of that time. Over the years, he hasobserved it has been increasingly difficult to getnew people to commit to being volunteer instruc-tors. Current and past instructors have been verycommitted to mentoring our youth. He stated weneed younger instructors who can relate to thestudents better than the older instructors whomay not keep up with current technology, etc. thatstudents are involved in. One change he notedover time is that there are a lot of students nowthat have never had experience with a firearm,prior to taking firearms safety.

It should be noted that our volunteer safetyinstructors are who keep our safety programsgoing. We greatly appreciate their time and dedi-cation to educating our youth, and adults. Weoften have adults taking classes with the youngerstudents.

Konetzko honored

Benefits of organ and tissue donation seen in local woman’s “gifts of life”

By Rin PorterThe death of a young person

saddens everyone, but when thatdeath provides life for othersthrough organ donation, itmakes the passing especiallymeaningful for those who havelost their family member, friend,or coworker.

This was the situation in thedeath two weeks ago of KaylaSue Hairsine, who lived in EagleBend with her son Kandin andher mom Candy Schauer. Kaylaworked at Dan’s Prize inBrowerville for seven years.

Kayla, age 28, died unexpect-edly at Tri-County Hospital inWadena on March 25. She waspart of an extended family thatincluded her son, her parents,

four siblings, two grandmas, anda bunch of nieces and nephews.

Some of Kayla’s body tissueswere donated after her death,including her eyes and severalbones, to help a number of peo-ple. The preparation of the tis-sue before it can be provided topeople who need it can take sev-eral months, so it’s impossible toknow right now how many peo-ple will be helped by Kayla’sgifts.

Kayla was laid to rest on April4. Her father David PhuHairsine arrived from Thailandin time for the funeral.

Kayla’s mom told us a littleabout Kayla. She said Kaylaloved to be the center of atten-tion, and liked to surprise peoplewith what she said. She was “agood-hearted person, she had alittle boy she loved, and a heartof gold,” Candy Schauer said.

In talking with Kayla’s sonKandin, Candy Schauer foundthat he agrees with her aboutthe sudden absence of his momKayla. “She’s not gone, she tooka trip and she’ll be back in a fewdays,” Kandin said. That’s howhe feels, Mrs. Schauer said. Thereality of his mom’s death is justtoo hard to take in for a littleboy. Eventually it will becomeclear.

“She wouldn’t want us to besad,” Candy said. She advisedKandin, “You do whatever youwant. You talk about the thingsshe did that made you laughhard. You play with yourcousins.”

Candy said the people atDan’s Prize have been wonderful

to the family during this difficulttime. They donated meat forthe wake and funeral and madesandwiches for those attendingthe ceremonies.

April is National Donate Lifemonth, bringing attention andawareness to organ donation.People are encouraged to consid-er whether to become organdonors during this month.Kayla is an example of how aperson’s unexpected and suddendeath can give life to others.She signed up to be an organdonor years ago.

Over 2.6 million Minnesotanshave already signed up to beorgan donors. This representsabout 60% of all adults in thestate, according to Susan MauLarson of Life Source.

Most people sign up throughthe Minnesota Division ofVehicle Services Bureau whenthey first get or when theyrenew their driver’s licenses, orthrough Life Source,Minnesota’s primary resource onorgan donation. But you don’thave to wait until your licenseexpires to become a donor.

Your decision to become anorgan and tissue donor repre-sents generosity in its highestform. According to the LifeSource website, if you are takento the hospital after an accidentor injury, it is the hospital’snumber one priority to save yourlife. Your status as a donor isnot considered until after everyeffort has been made to saveyour life, and death has beendeclared.Continued on page 12.

Todd County DeputySheriff Lonnie Marcyes

Kayla Sue Hairsine

By Rin PorterAt the April 1 county board

meeting, commissioners hiredand/or authorized the recruit-ment of candidates for eightpositions made vacant throughretirements, resignations, andseasonal needs.

Positions in the Sheriff ’sDepartment, Assessor’s Office,Health and Human Services,and GIS were discussed at previ-ous meetings, including theMarch 25 work session.

Commissioner RandyNeumann opposed the filling of

several of the positions.Neumann said he did not wantthe county to hire two part-timehome health aides for vacantpositions because he believedthe county was “competing withthe private sector” home healthaid businesses. HHS SupervisorMichael Steinbeisser explainedthat the private companies inTodd County do not have enoughstaff to care for all the persons inTodd County who need care, andthat the county was not “compet-ing,” but was filling a need forhome care for people who can’tafford private care, or who pre-fer county services to privateservices.

Either way, the taxpayer ispaying for the home health care,whether it is provided by thecounty or by private companies,

Todd Board fillspositions vacated byretirees

Continued on page 12.